Sole-bridge.



J. D. MANBLATT.

SOLE BRIDGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1913.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

WITNESSES JOSEPH DAVID MANBLATT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SOLE-BRIDGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Application filed May 20, 1913. Serial No. 768,705.*

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH D. MANBLATT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Sole-Bridge, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to boots and shoes, and has particular reference to arch supports or bridges.

The primary object of the invention is to so improve this class of devices as to make them not only cheaper in construction but more efiicient and reliable in use than devices heretofore proposed for this purpose- The foregoing and other objects of the invention will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this specification in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a shoe showing a preferred form of this invention in place; Fig. 2 is a transverse 'sectionon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig.

3 is a perspective view of the bridge detached and with a part broken away.

The main portion 10 of this device is made of wood, and hence is cheap, light and rigid. At the same time it is possessed of sufilcient strength to enable it to serve its purpose without breaking or becoming distorted. Saidbridge plate 10 rests with its .heel 11 upon the heel 12 of the shoe, and

the front end of the plate 13 reaches beyond the arch 14 and terminates just in the rear of the ball of the foot. It will appear, therefore, that the instep or arch .of the foot is reliably supported, and I have determined by actual use of this device that it is not only comfortable but'it does not impair the ease and elasticity of the step.

The plate 10 may be made of any suitable form having in view the elevation of the heel according to the desire of the wearer of by some positive means.

the shoe. As shown herein, I may use a pad 15 of any suitable material such as felt, rubber or the like, between the heel of the plate and the heel 12 of the shoe which serves to elevate the plate heel without adding materially to the weight.

Since the bridge plate is shorter than the foot, it is sometimes advantageous to secure it in position with respect to the shoe sole To that end I employ a screw 16 which is passed down through the plate heel 11 and the pad 15 and into the heel 12. As shown at 17, the up per surface of the bridge plate may be covered by a layer of fabric or felt, which may be secured to said plate by any suitable means such as cement. When this fabric covering is employed it may be lifted slightly at one side for the purpose of inserting the screw 16, or if desired, the screw may pass through the layer 17 as well.

The general configuration of the plate 10 may vary according to the form of-the foot of the wearer or the design of the shoe with which it is to be employed, and I do not wish therefore to be limited in this particular. It is to be noted also that the bridge may be arranged as a permanent part of the shoe while the shoe is being made.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent In a sole bridge, the combination of a light, rigid, solid wooden bridge plate extending from the heel forwardlv toward the ball, a fabric cushion beneath the heel end of the plate. a screw passing through said heel end and the cushion to secure the device rigidly in position, and a fabric covering cemented to the upper surface of said plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH DAVID MANBLATT.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. BEELER, PHILIP D. ROLLHAUB. 

